Time’s Up: Arsenal Flop May Never Play for Mikel Arteta Again After Youngster’s Emergence
Arsenal continued their impressive start to the 2024/25 season with a 3-1 win against Southampton on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium.
Despite initially conceding a goal, Arsenal’s comeback was fueled by strikes from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka, helping Mikel Arteta’s team maintain their unbeaten run in the new season.
Following a strong finish to the 2023/24 campaign, Arsenal is determined to end their 20-year wait for a league title. After coming close twice in recent years, could this season finally be their breakthrough?
Arteta will undoubtedly lean heavily on key players like Saka, who once again proved his ability to change the course of a game, as evidenced by his goal and two assists in the match.
As the long season unfolds, another player may see more first-team action, potentially building on a promising start to his Arsenal career.
The Emergence of Ethan Nwaneri at Arsenal
Before the 2022/23 season, Ethan Nwaneri was largely unknown to most football enthusiasts. Fast forward two years, and he has become one of the brightest prospects in English football.
At just 15 years old, Nwaneri made his Premier League debut in September 2022, setting a record as the league’s youngest-ever player. However, it is in the 2024/25 season that he has truly come into his own under Arteta’s guidance.
Nwaneri has appeared twice as a substitute in the league, delivering a standout performance in limited minutes against Leicester. When given a starting role, he demonstrated his skills even more effectively.
He youngster made his first start in the starting lineup for Arsenal in last month’s Carabao Cup match against Bolton Wanderers, delivering a standout performance that belied his young age.
The academy product found the back of the net twice in the 5-1 triumph over the League One side, taking full advantage of the injury absences of Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard.
In football, opportunities often come when least expected, and Nwaneri has seized his moment, putting Arteta in a position where he must consider giving him a starting role in the Premier League after the international break.
This could also open the door for the manager to move on from a player who, despite a costly transfer, has yet to make a significant contribution since joining the club.
Nwaneri’s Emergence is Bad News for Arsenal Flop Fabio Vieira
Portuguese player Fabio Vieira signed with Arsenal for £34 million in the summer of 2022, with significant expectations stemming from his transfer fee.
However, two years later, it is evident that things haven’t unfolded as anticipated for the 24-year-old. He is now on a season-long loan at Porto, the club from which Arsenal originally acquired him.
Since his high-profile move, Vieira has made just 49 appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side, often struggling to break into the starting lineup due to the form of Odegaard, and mainly finding playing time as a substitute.
| Fabio Vieira’s stats per competition for Arsenal | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Competition | Games | Goals | Assists |
| Premier League | 33 | 2 | 4 |
| Europa League | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| Champions League | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Carabao Cup | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| FA Cup | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Community Shield | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 49 | 3 | 9 |
| Source: Transfermarkt | |||
The midfielder, who currently earns £45,000 per week, recorded 12 goal contributions during his first two seasons with the team in the capital. However, it now appears that his time at the club might be coming to an unfortunate conclusion.
His loan transfer this summer is undoubtedly a smart decision, allowing him to gain crucial first-team experience that will help with his development. However, it also signals that he may no longer be a part of Mikel Arteta’s long-term plans for the team.
Considering Nwaneri’s recent impact on Arteta’s squad, it’s possible that Vieira could fall further down the selection order upon his return to the Emirates next summer. This could make it even more difficult for him to work his way back into the manager’s future plans.
Although he showed genuine promise during his early days at the club, it’s evident that the move has not panned out as either the player or the club had originally hoped.
To avoid a significant financial loss on the fee the club spent on him two years ago, Arteta may look to offload him permanently. This could lead to a greater reliance on Nwaneri, allowing him to solidify his position as a regular first-team player in the coming months and continue his promising development.
In other Arsenal news, “I Can Say…” – Fabrizio Romano Shares What He’s Now Hearing on Saliba Leaving Arsenal After Rudiger’s Comment
